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<br />e Letter to <br />Arkansas River Stakeholders <br /> <br />The agencies that conducted this study and created <br />this report are jointly responsible, subject to exist- <br />ing rights, for managing the Arkansas River corri- <br />dor and its associated reservoirs between Leadville <br />and Pueblo Reservoir. In 1993, these agencies <br />signed a memorandum of understanding with the <br />goal of creating a scientific foundation for river <br />management processes. The outcome was a 6-year <br />study that resulted in agreement among the agen- <br />cies on the facts and assumptions that should be <br />used in making river management decisions. <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />The agencies are pleased to publish and distribute <br />this final report, which contains peer-reviewed <br />results that we believe will stand up to scientific <br />scrutiny. We anticipate that the information in <br />this report will be used for developing flow recom- <br />mendations and for other river management deci- <br />sions starting in calendar year 2001 and beyond. <br /> <br />It is important to keep in mind that this report <br />does not contain flow management recommenda- <br /> <br /> <br />Greg Walche <br />Director <br />Colorado Department of Natural Resources <br /> <br />. :firl~2 <br /> <br /> <br />USDI Bureau of Reclamation <br /> <br />tions, but rather, is only an information base for <br />agency and public deliberations. The agencies <br />recognize that our river management decisions are <br />limited by the necessity to supply water for domes- <br />tic, agricultural, and other uses in the basin consis- <br />tent with existing water rights held by water users. <br />The cooperating agencies have a renewed commit- <br />ment to work cooperatively with water users to ful- <br />fill legal entitlements to water deliveries while <br />managing the river in a way that supports natural <br />resource and recreation values to the greatest extent <br />possible within these constraints. <br /> <br />The cooperating agencies intend that this report <br />will be used in concert with the Storage Needs <br />Assessment currently being spearheaded by the <br />Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy <br />District, along with the new management plan for <br />the Upper Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area. <br />We hope that this knowledge foundation will pro- <br />duce improved dialogue and new ideas among all <br />those with a stake in river management. <br /> <br />~-4~ <br /> <br />Donnie Sparks <br />Manager, Royal Gorge Field Office <br />L'SDI Bureau of Land Management <br /> <br /> <br />Letter to Arkansas River Stakeholders - iii <br />